Quest for Fort Portal city status divides leaders
An aerial view of part of Fort Portal Town showing the green belts on Balya Road.
What you need to know:
Two sub-county leaders accuse Local Government minister and Fort Portal Municipality MP of not seeking their consent.
Kabarole
Local council leaders of Karambi and Busoro sub-counties in Kabarole District have accused the minister for Local Government, Mr Adolf Mwesige, and Fort Portal Municipality MP Alex Ruhunda of allegedly influencing local authorities to endorse Fort Portal’s quest for a city status without consulting them.
Their accusations follow Mr Mwesige’s May 9 letter requesting the Kabarole District chairperson, Mr Richard Rwabuhinga, to get endorsements from Karambi and Busoro sub-counties accepting to join Fort Portal Municipality so as to boost the bid for a city status.
The district councillor for Karambi Sub-county, Mr Joseph Mashuhuko, said the minister is using his power to coerce local leaders to move motions without consulting them which he termed as “abuse of office”. He said instead, the minister should lobby for social infrastructure, industries to develop the area but not focus on dividing the people.
“If cities were a requirement in Uganda, a technical report would have been sent to all councils and district leaders requesting them to show their interest in the city status” Mr Mashuhuko added.
However, during a leaders’ forum at the district headquarters on Friday, Mr Ruhunda said: “Leaders must solicit for signatures because a city will improve service delivery, job creation and increase the district’s revenue base.”
“We shall move with those who support the city status and those who feel they don’t want to be left behind. Those who are not supporting a city status are enemies of development,” Mr Ruhunda added.
In his communication read by MP Ruhunda, Mr Mwesige said the city status is aimed at attracting development in the area.
